Hurricane Sandy and football were the news today. Now it is just Sandy.

Sandy is 1000 miles wide. that is almost unimaginable. She is stronger than Katrina but different. Katrina hit a below sea-level city directly with full force. Katrina was a Cat 5.

Sandy isn’t a Cat 5. She is barely a 2 but she is massive, large and covers a wide area.

We will keep this thread as an anything within reason goes thread.

What’s happening in your neighborhood?

I had a blonde moment. I kept getting email from friends reminding me to fill up the tub to store water. I almost did it…and then I asked myself why I was doing it. I have no idea. I am on “city water.” Is there something I don’t know. I never filled that tub.

What happens when a natural disaster hits? Do the States have the capacity within their own budget to just deal with it on their own? How many times has the state of Virginia requested Emergency status from the Feds? Hmmm, I believe we are in a State of Emergency right now! What does that mean exactly to have emergency status? Well, it a nutshell it means you can qualify for money, cold hard cash. Now, as a Virginian, I would prefer to dip into the big pot of resources as opposed to the small state pot. Republican governors don’t mind asking for federal assistance, certainly Governor McDonnell has done so on more than one occasion.

If Romney were President, what WOULD happen to FEMA. Well, let’s listen, shall we.

During a CNN debate at the height of the GOP primary, Mitt Romney was asked, in the context of the Joplin disaster and FEMA’s cash crunch, whether the agency should be shuttered so that states can individually take over responsibility for disaster response.

“Absolutely,” he said. “Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that’s the right direction. And if you can go even further, and send it back to the private sector, that’s even better. Instead of thinking, in the federal budget, what we should cut, we should ask the opposite question, what should we keep?”

We will depend on the private sector in an emergency? What does that mean? A state in financial crisis, possibly dealing with millions, possibly billions of dollars in crippling infrastructure damage needs to appropriate the money before it can helps its people? Does this sound like a good idea to anyone?

So for states that are the most impacted by any one natural disaster, there is no shared sense of responsibility as a nation, everyone is on their own! Great, sounds like good plan for economic success…….NOT. Can you imagine the state of Louisiana attempting to recover from Katrina with no Federal help?

I hope Republicans understand exactly what they voting for when they cast their ballot for Romney. Those pesky unintended consequences and all.

MANASSAS, Va.—A local church on Friday denied a Washington Blade staff writer access to an anti-gay marriage gathering at which Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli spoke.

A woman who was standing near the entrance of Reconciliation Community Church in Manassas in front of two men wearing dark suits who appeared to be security personnel asked this reporter for identification and proof of media affiliation after he identified himself as a Blade staff writer. He proceeded to show her his drivers’ license and business card.

Paul Ryan has outlined a very similar position. Is this acceptable to voters?
The Republican platform outlines the same position. Why are they worried about swing voters? Aparently such restrictions don’t bother a whole lot of people. Perhaps because it hasn’t happened to them.

Could it be that Corey is hopeful, under the guise of this secret committee, he will be able re-animate, from the dead, the immigration crisis, thus bringing attention to himself. He reminds me of Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein, hoping to piece together the odd parts of dead people to create the monster!

Lest we forget, Corey is dreaming of bigger and better (i.e. more powerful) elected offices, first the Lt Gov office and then he’s on his way up and out to POTUS!

Police will open an investigation into alleged Moran campaign offense. Patrick Moran, son of Rep. Jim Moran stupidly gave a right wing “investigator” inside how-to tips on how to commit voter fraud. The incident was captured on video by James O’Keefe’s crew.

Arlington County police have opened an investigation into alleged voter offenses involving Patrick Moran, former director of field operations for his father, Congressman Jim Moran, authorities announced Thursday.

Police said they launched the probe after numerous calls regarding an undercover video video showing Patrick Moran discussing possible voter fraud with an activist posing as a campaign worker. Authorities could not say how long the investigation might take.

Rep. Moran (D-Va.) is running for a 12th term in the House. First elected in 1990, his district includes Arlington County, Alexandria, Falls Church and portions of Fairfax County.

In a statement Thursday, the Moran for Congress campaign said it welcomes the investigation and intends to cooperate with authorities.

Being stupid isn’t illegal. Absolutely Young Moran should resign. He distracts from his father’s campaign and simply cannot not be trusted with the wisdom and ethics that should be involved with any political campaign.

An Obama/Clinton Rally has been planned for Monday evening at Jiffy Lube Pavilion. I don’t yet have the time. Call or go by Democratic headquarters in Dale City to get tickets. I expect the City of Manassas Democrats have tickets also as well as the Obama office on Main Street in Old Town Manassas.

Now…there is the question of that hurricane/Perfect Storm that we are facing. I don’t think I would want to be in Jiffy Lube during a hurricane. Somehow the security just isn’t there. Expect this one to change a few times before all is said and done.

Meanwhile, I have heard that the Romney Rally scheduled for Battlefield Football Stadium Sunday afternoon has been moved to an indoor location. I don’t know that location. Check with the local Republicans. Hopefully someone like Steve will come along and leave us the details. The weather is not looking good and the Republicans are wise to make changes now.

Sarah Palin used what some consider a racially derogatory term in a posting on Facebook on Wednesday that said President Barack Obama’s “shuck and jive shtick” lies must end regarding last month’s attack at a U.S. post in Benghazi, Libya.

“Why the lies? Why the cover up? Why the dissembling about the cause of the murder of our ambassador on the anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil? We deserve answers to this. President Obama’s shuck and jive shtick with these Benghazi lies must end,” the former GOP Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate wrote. (on Facebook)

Oh dear God, tell me she didn’t just say “shuck and jive” in reference to the President. I have known since I was 6 years old that “shuck and jive” is an incredibly racist remark. Why would she do that? Why would she start hurling racist expressions at a sitting president of the United States? This is further proof that Sarah Palin was totally unfit to serve as Vice President (I will now say any elected office.) and that racism is very much a part of the attacks on President Obama with some people, including Sarah Palin.

Despite the fact that Palin is no longer running for office or in office, she still is a party fair haired child. She is simply an embarrassment. What was she thinking? is she truly this ignorant? Palin owes President Obama a written and verbal public apology.

There is a consensus forming in weather forecast models that hurricane Sandyis unlikely to go out to sea. Instead, it more likely will merge with a strong fall cold front and transition into a powerhouse, possibly historic mid-latitude storm along the mid-Atlantic and/or Northeast coast Sunday through Wednesday.

The majority of models now take Sandy from its current position over Jamaica northward over the Bahamas before curving the storm towards either the mid-Atlantic or Northeast coast. Models disagree on where the storm will recurve and make landfall: simulations vary from the mid-Atlantic to Maine. There remains a chance, though diminishing, the storm will slide harmlessly out to sea.

Areas from the Carolinas to Canada can expect extreme wind, rain, storm surge along the coast, and often dangerous conditions. Power lines will probably go down. Snow is not likely although it is possible.